As many seniors in universities across the country will tell you, there’s no shortage of bright and accomplished graduates from top schools, all competing for a shrinking number of opportunities.
In fact, the competition for an entry-level position has never been fiercer. Newsweek recently noted that 2.8 million graduates will enter the workforce in 2016. The scary part is that 40 percent of the total number of unemployed in the U.S. will be made up of 18-to-29-year olds, an unemployment rate of almost 14 percent among that age bracket (almost three times the national figure).
RELATED: What’s Up With College Career Centers? Tell Us YOUR Experience
The not-so-secret weapon for college students to launch a career is a no-cost resource that is included with that tuition check your parents write every year – the Career Planning Center.
Before you slap your head and go “No duh!” the point to be made is that the Career Center is only as good a resource as you make it. Here are six steps to maximize your experience with your school’s Career Center, and optimize your chances of scoring a top-tier opportunity when you graduate.